Orpheus was a famed musician in ancient Greece who worked with, and later against, Bacchus and his Bacchae. He was in love with Eurydice before her death by Bacchus' hand.
When he was a young man, Orpheus and his lover Eurydice served Bacchus, luring new members into his Bacchae cult. While Eurydice found it easier to break free, Orpheus became too obsessed with fame and glory, and his actions would lead to Eurydice leaving him for Hercules, only to die by Bacchus’ hand.
Depressed, Orpheus found himself using the music from Bacchus’ enchanted Lyre to keep the Bacchae at bay, realizing the error of his ways in the process. He even managed to bring Eurydice back to life and make amends with her. However, a series of events unfolded involving Xena which resulted in Eurydice once again dying at the hands of Bacchus. A few years later, Bacchus managed to curse Orpheus, only leaving his head alive and removing his body, so that Orpheus may witness his failure. He bitterly joined forces with Xena, whom he partially blamed for what happened to Eurydice, and they defeated Bacchus. In the end Orpheus finally found peace.
